Self care

Self care means looking after yourself in a healthy way, whether it’s brushing your teeth, taking medicine when you have a cold, or doing some exercise.

If you have a long-term condition, there are extra things you may need to consider, such as making changes to your diet, different types of exercise or different types of medication you may need to take.

Self care means staying active by doing things that are important to you, such as gardening, seeing friends and family, going on holiday and continuing to work, if possible. It involves looking at what you can do and want to do rather than what you can’t do.

Self care doesn’t mean you get less help from your doctor. The healthcare team is still there to support you. What and how much support you need will be discussed with you and written in your care plan.